Living in SZ | Independent bookstores and bars in Shenzhen

Shenzhen is known as a “City of Books” and “City of Libraries” that boasts large bookstores and public libraries in every district. In addition, there are some hidden gems of lesser known independent and private bookstores with unique book collections that are perfect for weekend visits. Here are some of them worth exploring.

Coffee Flower Books

Located next to the Shekou Port in Nanshan District, Coffee Flower Books is an independent bookstore that sells second-hand books collected by its owners from various sources.

Readers read books at Coffee Flower Books in Nanshan District. Wei Jie

Upon stepping into the bookstore, you will be greeted by a unique smell of old books. The space is packed with antique bookshelves, on which books are placed in categories, with a focus on humanities and social sciences. The bookstore owner has a collection of more than 10,000 volumes of books, mostly second-hand, he collected from various sources, including a quarter of English originals and some rare editions. 

Readers read books at Coffee Flower Books. Wei Jie

The hustle and bustle of the neighborhood suddenly becomes quiet when being inside the bookstore, where time seems come to a still. The tranquil ambience calms visitors, whether they come to read or find a quiet place to study. You can order a drink and spend as much time as you like here browsing through books.

A former UI designer, the founder quit his job after getting tired of the monotonous life and ventured into his dream of running a bookstore. Most of the books in the store are available for borrowing, as it has been one of the owner’s intentions in opening the store to connect with other like-minded friends. 

Movies are screened at the bookstore every Saturday night, costing only 19.9 yuan per person.

Add: 1/F, Shunfa Commerce Building, Gongye Road I, Nanshan District

Business hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Metro: Line 2 to Shekou Port Station (蛇口港站), Exit C

Ozu Book Room

If you are enthusiast of movies, this is a place you must visit — the Ozu Book Room in Futian District. Named after Japanese film director Yasujiro Ozu, the book room has a collection of books related to films and movie directors including Jia Zhangke, Yang Dechang and Hirokazu Koreeda.

Movie lovers watch a movie at Ozu Book Room in Futian District. Photo from official WeChat account "深圳吃货小分队"

The store is not large but cozy: a wall-high shelf of books, a magazine rack, several couches and a few tables and chairs. It’s place to read during the day, and it’s the highly anticipated movie screening time at 8 p.m. There is an unwritten rule at the Ozu: No inspirational books, no commercial films. People gather at Ozu as they share common interests — they love movies and they prefer art films. Come visit Ozu and you might see a good old movie that you had missed seeing before.

Add: B10, 1/F, Tagen Shishang Xintiandi commerical area, Futian District

Business hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Metro: Line 2 or 9 to Jingtian Station (景田站), Exit E

Jieyun Library

Nestled in an ancient house in the 400-year-old Shangwei Art Village in Longhua Distrcit, Jieyun is one of the few private libraries of art and graphic books in the country.

Officially open Sept. 25, 2021, Jieyun Library is curated by Longhua-based scholar Shen Xiaoli. It has a collection of approximately 20,000 volumes of art books and 30,000 picture books.

A corner of Jieyun Library in Longhua District. File photo

You will find various editions of traditional Chinese comic strips, prints and illustrated books of different eras, classic Japanese comic books, limited editions of photograph collections and hand-drawn picure albums, imported European and American graphic novels, architecture and humanities books, all of which are with collection value, here in the private library.

The interior of the library maintains the traditional style and tone of the century-old house, retaining its original layout while integrating a specialized collection system of illustrated books.

Add: #95-1, Shangwei Art Village East, Longhua District

Business hours: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

Feidi Books

Feidi Books is an independent store that sells mainly poetry collections in the OCT-LOFT in Nanshan District. Formerly a small bookstore in the Bagualing Industrial Zone in Futian District, the bookstore, founded by a young poet, is a must-visit place for people who appreciate poetry as most of the poetry collections available here are rare to find elsewhere.

Adjacent to the bookstore are a Feidi exhibition space and a cafe, where periodic art salons and poetry sharing events are hosted for people interested in such creative writing to stay engaged.

Bookshelves full of books at Feidi Books in Nanshan District. File photo

Add: 101, Building B4, north section of OCT-LOFT, Wenchang Street South, Nanshan District

Metro: Line 1 to Qiaocheng East Station (侨城东站), Exit A, or Line 2 to Qiaocheng North Station (侨城北站), Exit B

Old Heaven Bookstore

Located in OCT-LOFT, a known gathering place of the city’s art and literary lovers, Old Heaven Bookstore is known for the dim yellow light-boxes at its entrance that add a retro, artistic touch to its name. The bookstore specializes in humanity book collections, some of which are rare editions and hard to come by in the market. Its independent music collections include some vinyl records, appealing to nostalgic music enthusiasts. It also hosts cultural exchange activities and independent music performances from time to time.

The logo of Old Heaven Bookstore in Nanshan District. File photo

Add: 120, Building A5, north section of OCT-LOFT, Nanshan District

Metro: Line 1 to Qiaocheng East Station (侨城东站), Exit A, or Line 2 to Qiaocheng North Station (侨城北站), Exit B